Adobe Subsidiary Expands Surface Design for 3D Printing

In a new partnership to improve solutions for 3D printing users, Substance and CoreTechnologie are expanding options in surface design, as well as integrating virtual reality (VR) for better workflow. As Substance (owned by Adobe) brings software for 3D digital materials to the table and CoreTechnologie offers a suite of solutions, designers can enjoy over 5,000 different surfaces.

Surface quality is an ongoing issue for 3D printing issues; however, without proper inspection regarding model quality before printing, prototypes and parts could be affected in a variety of different—and negative—ways. Only closed solids should be used in the printing process as users seek accurate topology and texture.

CoreTechnologie claims that with its 4D_Additive software, added strength is offered due to rapid evaluation of quality in CAD models, along with both automatic and manual repair, analyzed in the following common formats:

• CATIA
• SOLIDWORKS
• CREO
• NX
• STEP
• JT

With the software, designers can now use thousands of predefined textures and can innovate with varied renderings, as well as see their models and the desired effects in real-time. VR can also be added via due to the introduction of Substance Engine SDK functions, offering streamlined access for parts requiring advanced design for surfaces.

While designers in any industry should be able to enjoy the advantages of the new partnership between Substance and CoreTechnologie, applications requiring structural models with novel design surfaces will benefit the most—whether industrialists are 3D printing car parts, engineers are fabricating critical aerospace components, or surgeons are producing medical models for training purposes.

When 3D printing was invented back in the 80s as a tool for engineers to enjoy rapid prototyping, few could have predicted the wow factor the technology would offer to the general public in the last decade, or how such an industry would explode with options in hardware and software, as well as materials and a variety of sophisticated tools for features like surface design.

4D_Additive software makes it possible to add Substance files to a template. Image courtesy of Substance.

This continued evolution has led from innovations to be created in 2D, 3D, and 4D (and even in some cases, 5D printing), as well as accompaniment by robotics, and a variety of different, also futuristic technologies like augmented and virtual reality.

Although founded in 2003 as Allegorithmic in Central-France, Adobe became a major stockholder of the company in 2017, with Substance Designer and Substance Painter operating as flagship software.

CoreTechnologie offers 3D CAD data conversion for users around the world. Founded in 1998, CT now has headquarters in ten countries. Research and development is at the core of their company, with 35 percent of financial revenue reinvested into creating new products.